Facebook set to open Chinese office

The move to set up a sales office would put Facebook employees inside mainland China for the first time Photo: AP

Facebook plans to open a sales office in China to work with local advertisers, Bloomberg has reported, citing people familiar with the matter.

The world’s largest social networking company is in talks to lease space in the Fortune Financial Centre in Beijing’s central business district, Blooming said, citing the sources.

Facebook could open an office in China within a year, a person familiar with the matter said.

Facebook could not be immediately reached for comment outside of US business hours.

The move to set up a sales office would put Facebook employees inside mainland China for the first time, and would come despite its services being blocked there. Facebook already has a sales office in Hong Kong.